Printing machine



Dec. 24, 1935. W, G READ 2,025,307

PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 24, .1935. w. G. READ 2,025367 PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elm OM00 Wo/em G F5190 Sitar/MA Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES gusset PATENT OFFICE Application December 12, 1932, Serial No. 646,866 Renewed August 6, 1934 7 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines of the inexpensive type, sometimes called duplicating machines, adapted to be operated by persons unskilled in the printing art.

5 It is the object of this invention to provide improved means for mounting individual type in page form, for securing the forms in the press and for facilitating and reducing the cost of making changes in the forms and storing the forms when 10 removed from the press.

Other objects will appear and be more fully pointed out in the following specification and claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of a cylindrical bed ll and form holder embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, plan view showing one end of the flexible form holder;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the form holder with 20 a few of the line holders for individual type in place thereon;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of one side of the bed showing the mechanism for securing the form holder thereon;

Figs. 6 and '7 are fragmentary sections taken respectively on the lines 6-6 and '|'I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing a form holder of the kind employed to facilitate alterations in a column of type constituting a 30 portion only of the page form;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section showing the connection between the form holder and one of the line holders, and

Fig. 10 is an isometric View of a portion of the form holder showing the transversely slotted flanges.

My device has an arcuate bed l adapted to be secured in the usual or suitable manner to the press or duplicating machine. A flexible form holder H is constructed from a thin sheet of metal and is adapted to be placed on the outer surface of the bed It. At each end an outwardly bent flange l2 extends substantially continuously across the holder. A pair of rigid bars l3 are formed with hook-like ends M to engage the flanges l2 and each of these bars is perforated to receive two bolts for attaching the bar and form holder to the bed It. Lugs 16 project inward from the bed for engagement with the bolts l5 and the bottom edge of the bed at each side has a projecting ridge H upon which the bar l3 pivots when actuated by the bolts l5. Thrust screws l8 are threaded in each of the bars I 3 to actuate a rigid bar is against individual line holders 20 in the form holder ll.

The individual line holders 2|] are straight, channel-shaped bars having inwardly projecting flanges 2! for confining the individual type (not shown). It will be understood that the individual type are of the common form having longi- 5 tudinal grooves to receive the flanges 2! and are slidable longitudinally within the channel-shaped holder so that a line of type may be inserted or removed bodily from the form. To retain the line holders in the form holder, the latter has, 10 at opposite side edges, inwardly bent flanges 22 to engage in notches formed in the ends of the line holders 2%, as shown in Fig. 9. At one end, one of the flanges 22 terminates short of the flange l2 to provide an opening 23 permitting 15 the line holders 2!! to be moved into engagement with the flanges 22. The bars I9 are also provided with end kerfs, like those in the line holders, to slidably engage the flanges 22.

To give greater flexibility to the form holder 2 l I it may be desirable in some cases to form the flanges 22 with a series of transverse slots 24 as indicated in Fig. 10 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. However, in most cases such slots are unnecessary and sliding movement of the line holders along the flanges 22 is facilitated if the slots are omitted.

As shown in Fig. 8, one or more narrow form holders 25 may be substituted for the single form holder H extending the entire width of the bed, when the numerous or frequent changes in a particular column of the type are likely to be required.

In use, a page of printing may be composed in one or more of the holders II or 25, with said holders removed from the bed. The several lines of type are placed in the holders 2B and the latter are placed in engagement with the flanges 22. The openings 23 facilitate insertion of the holders 28, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. When the holder l I has been substantially filled with the individual line holders H, or with other suitable filler, one of the rigid bars i9 is placed at each end to afford an abutment for the thrust screws l8 and. then the form holder H is bentto conform to the bed In, with the flanges l2 in engagement with the hook-shaped ends M of the bars l3. One of the bars l3 may be removed from the bed to permit the final fastening. The bolts l5 are then replaced and tightened to pivot the bars 13 on the ridges It and thus draw the form holder ll tight against the periphery of the bed. Finally the thrust screws l8 are tightened to take up the play between individual line holders 20 which results when the form holder is bent from flat to curved shape.

' It will be understood that in order to secure uniform impressions when the machine is in operation, it is important that the flexible holder ll 7 be drawn tight upon the periphery of the cylinder or bed and that the several line holders H be held against movement These line holders fit the type somewhat loosely and it is further desirable that they be forcibly compressed laterally when in use. This desirable compression and compensation for the looseness between the line holders which results when the form holder is bent from flat to curved shape is secured by my arrangement of the thrust screws l8. The material from which the form holder is made is sufficiently flexible so that the integral flanges 22 are caused to firmly grip the ends of the line holders when the material is bent to conform to the bed. Uniformly good impressions are thus obtainable with my improved machine.

When the form is to be removed from the press, the thrust screws I 8 are merely loosened and then one of the bars l3 detached from .the bed to free the flange l2. The holder H is thus freed from the bed for storage or alteration. Storage of the forms in the holders l I in unusually compact space results because the relatively thin holders lie flat one upon another. The work of making changes in the form can be accomplished quickly and .easilyby unskilled labor and a minimum of expensive equipment is tied up. This is an .important economy where a large number of the forms are kept in storage for periodic use as in the .oflices of railroads and other large businesses or governmental departments.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1 In a machine of the class described, a cylindrical bed, a flexible form holder adapted to be bent to conform to and engage said bed and to lie flat when removed therefrom, individual line holders arranged to lie upon the outer surface of said form holder and to be continuously supported thereby, means for removably connecting the ends of said line holders to said form holder, a tiltable bar mounted on an edge of said bed, means removably connecting said form holder and bar, means for tilting said bar for drawing said holder circumferentially of the bed to thereby secure said form holder in tight conformity to said bed and thrust screws threaded in said bar for actuating said line holders laterally in compressed relation to each other in the form holder.

2. In a machine of the class described, a cylindrical bed, a thin, flexible form holder adapted said bar to compact said type members in said form holder and means for actuating said bar to draw said form holder circumferentially into close conformity to said bed.

3. In a machine of the class described, a cylindrical bed, a thin, flexible form holder adapted to be bent to conform to said bed and to lie flat when removed therefrom, type members movably mounted on said form holder, means extending along opposite side edges of said holder to slidably engage the ends of said type members, a bar extending along an end edge of said holder, interengaging flanges on said holder and bar, thrust means engaging said bar to compact said type members in said form holder and means for actuating said bar to draw said form holder circumferentially into close conformity to said'bed.

4. In a machine of the class described, a cylindrical bed, a thin, flexible form holder adapted to be bent to conform to said bed and to lie flat when removed therefrom, type members movably mounted on said form holder, a bar extending along an edge of said holder, interengaging members on said holder and bar, thrustscrewsengaging said bar and arranged to be actuated to clamp said type'members in said form holder and means for actuating said bar to draw said form holder circumferentially into close conformity to said bed.

5. In a machine of the class described, a form holder comprising, a thin, flexible, rectangular sheet .adapted to be bent to conform to a cylindrical bed and to lie flat when removed therefrom,

integral flanges extending longitudinally of opposite side edges of said sheet in overlapping relation to said edges, said flanges being formed to permit bending longitudinally, individual line holders having ends slidably engaging said flanges, I

means for securing said line holders in immovable relation to each other and in engagement with said flanges and means for securing said sheet .on a cylindrical bed.

6. In .a machine of the class described, a form holder comprising, a thin, flexible, rectangular sheet adapted to be bent to conform to a cylindrical bed and to lie flat when removed therefrom, integral flanges extending longitudinally of opposite side edges of said sheet in overlapping relation to said edges, said flanges being severed transversely at intervals to facilitate bending the same longitudinally, individual line holders having ends slidably engaging said flanges and means for securing said line holders in immovable relation to each other and in engagement with said flanges.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a form holder comprising, a thin, flexible, rectangular sheet adapted to be bent to conform to a cylindrical bed and to lie flat when removed therefrom, integral flanges extending longitudinally of opposite side edges of said sheet and overlapping said side edges in spaced parallel relation thereto, said flanges being severedtransversely at intervals to facilitate bending the same longitudinally, individual line members having ends slidably engaging said'flanges and means for securing said line members in fixed relation to each other and in engagement with said flanges.

WORTH G. READ. 

